File sharing sites shutter operations following MegaUpload arrests

In an effort to mitigate the potential fallout, file sharing sites with affiliate programs are shutting down regular operations. In the wake of the MegaUpload crackdown, FileSonic, FileServe and numerous others have disabled their affiliate rewards programmes and now only allow users access to their own files. The programmes rewarded members for uploading content — pirated or legal.

Many other file-sharing sites are following suit and some are taking drastic measures, blocking incoming traffic from the US, deleting incriminating content or just going offline completely.

Derek Labian CEO of popular file-sharing site, MediaFire said in an interview with Venturebeat about its competitors’ demise: “We don’t have a business built on copyright infringement. Like many other cloud-based sharing services like Box.net and Dropbox, we’re a legitimate business targeting professionals.”

Labian stated that unlike any of the services currently scrambling to wash away evidence of illegal file-sharing, MediaFire does not have a structure in place to give users monetary rewards for uploading pirated content.

Users can, however, still use MediaFire to share pirated content, which is indexed by Google. When asked about this Labian responded, “We try to steer clear of things that would attract scrutiny. If people are pirating on our service, we don’t want those people to use it.” Labian said that MediaFire is a “private service” and the only reason Google indexes a MediaFire page is when it has been made public on a third-party site by a MediaFire user. He urged Google to look into the issue.

Labian aims to maintain a legitimate business, acknowledging people’s need to share files and reportedly maintains a good relationship with with various government bodies, including “Homeland Security, ICE, and the FBI.” MediaFire also follows DMCA protocols.